At Kitchen of Purpose, food is a vehicle for opportunity. Through culinary training, business support, and food assistance, the organization helps individuals build skills, launch careers, and improve lives.

In 2019, Kitchen of Purpose found a game-changing space: 5,000 square feet in Arlington, Virginia, with room for industrial kitchens, classrooms, offices, and a café. It was the perfect foundation to expand—but converting it into a fully equipped training center required significant investment. Traditional lenders weren’t an option. It was RDF, with its flexible financing,  that helped bring the vision to life.

Then the pandemic hit. Revenue from catering and the café disappeared, and donations slowed. What began as a moment of growth quickly became a struggle for survival. By 2023, Kitchen of Purpose faced a $1 million deficit. Despite swift budget cuts and a recovery plan, the organization needed breathing room.

While banks declined to help, RDF took a different approach. We listened, evaluated the progress, and restructured the original loan, allowing for six months of interest-only payments. That critical support helped stabilize operations and keep the organization’s mission moving forward.

Today, Kitchen of Purpose trains 70 to 80 culinary students each year, equips entrepreneurs through its food lab, and has delivered more than 20,000 healthy meals to those in need. They are about so much more than cooking—they’re about creating opportunity. And with RDF’s support, Kitchen of Purpose continues to change lives, one skill and one meal at a time.